Electric metallic window-curtain



C. R. MAXWELL.

ELECTRIC METALLIC WINDOW CURTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.30, 1920.

1,374,670. Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I C. R. MAXWELL.

ELECTRIC METALLIC WINDOW CURTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.30, 1920.

1,374,670. Patented Apr. 12, 1921. 1 7 a 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATENT .oFFice.

CLARENCE P'. MAXWELL, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA',

ELECTRIC METALLIC WINDOW-CURTAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

iippiicatio'n med August so, i920. serial No. 407,005.

\ and has for its objects to provide a curtain which may be electrically charged for and as an anti-burglar device, which may be deenergized for operating the curtain, and which, when, energized, is also locked against operative movement.

Other objects are to provide improved means for operating the roller to wind up the curtain, and improved means for releasing the curtain catch whereby thev same will be automatically wound upon the roller.

A further object is to provide mechanism whereby the curtain will remain charged or energized in its'various positions of adjustment relative to the Window.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a curtain either manually controlled or electrically controlled, the mechanism in each instance, being subject to the control of a manually operated electric switch, placed in such a position that it cannot be readily tampered with by a person on the outside of the window, and placed so as not to be tampered with by children.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and appended claims.

It is also my purpose to provide a device of the type set forth which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability, which will operate effectively for its intended purpose, and wherein the coniponent parts will be so arranged that the possibility of derangement is reduced to a minimum, and, while the drawings, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that changes, alterations and modifications, falling within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to if desired.

Upon the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a window, with my improved curtain applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top and sectional plan view of the curtain, showing the roller therefor in Fig. 3 is an end view of the curtasi'fictiliird hanger. Fig. 4 is a perspective and fragmentary view of the curtain roller, yshowin the two half sections thereof clamped togetlier with screws. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the curtain roller. Fig.

- 6 is a transverse sectional view sho win th vcurtain roller within the housing, and: th

spring for operating the curtain roller. Fig 7 is a fragmentary detail view showing the method of insulating the curtain release catches. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary and detail view of the curtain fabric, showing the arrangement' of contact elements thereon. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the window curtain and hanger, showin the ele locking mechanism which is ogperative vgl-'1131i the curtain is energized. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary and detail View showing an electric locking mechanism for the release catches, effective. when the curtain is energized. Fig. 11 '1s a diagrammatic view of the electric elements/ and method of wiring the device. Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view of the curtain roller, showing a commutation ring and contact brushes. Fi s. 13 and 14 are sectional detail views of t e notched curtain retaining racks.

Referringto the drawings, my improved curtain consists of a roller housing 21, piovided with end brackets 22, and-a long'itudii/ial bottom opening 23. The housing is co/iistructed preferably of porcelain, but any suitable insulating material may be used.

'A roller 24 is journaled in the brackets 22,

and consists of two substantially, semi-cylindrical parts, 25 and 26, secured together at the ends by screws 27. The part 25, has the integral shafts 28 and 29. The shaft .28 is rotatively mounted on a tubular pro- ]ection 30, fixed to the housing. The shaft 29. is provided with a ratchet wheel 31. Spiral springs 32 and 33 have their inner ends secured to the shafts 28 and 29, and their outer ends secured to pins 34, proiecting from the housing. As the curtain 35 is pulled downward, the spiral springs con. tract, and when the curtain is released, the spiral springs tend to return to their normal position, thereby winding the curtain on the roller; The roller, constructed preferably of porcelain, has a hollow bore 36, lined with contact rings 37, which alternate with insulating ring members 38. The curtain 35 is constructed preferably of asbestos fabric, and has arranged on the outer side 39, a series of strips 40,consisting of cepper wire woven into a fabric.` Alternate strips of thel wire fabric, are arranged to be energized ifrom an electric conduit. The nonrotative tubular projection 30, has connected thereto, the metal conductors 41, which are connected at the opposite end to a non-conductive trunnion member 42, journaled in the roller member 25. The conductors 41, are provided with a series of brushes 43, so arranged that the brushes on one of members 41 are in contact with a seriesof the rings 37, and the brushes of the opposite conductor are in contact with an alternating series of the rings 37. The strips 40, on the curtain, are therefore charged alternately, with current of opposite polarity.

The metal conductor-s 4l, are connected to electric conduit terminals 44, which pass out through Vthe tubular projection 30, and to the electric switch 45, located upon the window casing 4 6, so as-to be out of reach of children, andA serving to connect the terminal conduits 44 with an electric circuit indicated by the wires 47.

The bottom or free end o-f the curtain is provided with a non-conductive tubular portion 48, within which is mounted the shafts 49, terminatingr at their outer extremities in catches 50, ada ted to engage with notched members 51. hese notched members are mounted in non-conductive. channels 52, preferably constructed of porcelain. The inner extremities 53, of shafts 4 9, are provided with non-conductive covers 54, angularly disposed to serve as handles for operating the plungers 50 and shafts 49, against the tension of spring 55, to release the curtain.

That the curtain may, when pulled downward, be locked in position when energized by the electric current, I have provided magnetic coils 56, connected in series, and connected to certain of the metal fabric conductive strips, whereby a. portion of the cur ,rent is shunted through the magnetic coils 56. The shafts 49, are thus magnetically energized, as are the catches 57, which engage with the slots 58, in the shafts 49. When thus energized, the catches 50 cannot be released by pressing upon the handles 54.

An additional means for locking the curtain in position when energized, consists of ratchet pawl 59, engaging with the ratchet wheel 31. The pawl 59 has an integral sleeve 60, rotatively mounted on a stud 61, projecting from the housing, and is further provided with a. lever arm 62, to which is attached a cord 63, provided with a handle 64. A spring 65, coiled around the sleeve 60, and having one extremity 66, in engagement with the lever arm 62, and the opposite extremity in engagement with the housing, serves to maintain the'pawl 59 in enpawl 59, whereupon springs 32 and 33 will' operate the roller to wind the curtain thereon. V

To lock the pawl 59 in operative engagement with ratchet wheel 31, I have provided a solenoid 67, which is energized on closing the switch 45, and a plunger 68, operating in the solenoid, and engaging in its uppermost osition, with a projection 69, on pawl 63. ith this device, the switch 45 must first be turned to open the circuit and deenergize the solenoid, before the pawl can be released from engagement with wheel 31.

From the foregoing descrip-tion, taken in connection with the drawings, it may be seen that I have provided an efiicient'antiburglar curtain, constructed entirely of fireproof material, capable of being electrically charged and energized so that a burglar would on attempting toI enter a window, be repelled by the curtain, and capable of being locked in any adjusted position, whereby the curtain could be left at a position for ventilation, and at the same time, not readily tampered with for entrance at the window.

It is apparent that, should one o-f the locking means become ineffective, as for instance, the locking means for catches 50, the remaining locking means will still be effective, until the switch 45 is turned to open the electric circuit. For convenience of illustration, the switch 45 is shown mounted on the window casing, but in actual practice, the switch may be located in any preferred position.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fireproof window curtain, the combination with a porcelain housing and hangers, of a shade roller journaled in the hangers, and an asbestos curtain fixed to the roller.

2. The combination with fr housing and brackets integral therewitl of a roller journaled therein, a non-conductive curtain fabric fixed t0 the roller, strips of conductive material fixed to the non-conductive fabric, means for energizing the same, and means for locking the curtain in any adjusted position.

3. The combination with acurtain housing, of a roller rotatively mounted therein, a non-conductive curtain attached thereto, metallic fabric strips mounted thereon, means for energizing the metallic fabric strips, s rings having their inner extremities fixed to the roller and their outer extremities fixed to the housing, said springs being tensed as the curtain is drawn downward, means for securing the curtain in any 45 l nals and `the wire fabric strips. v 7. In a window curtain, the combination adjusted position, means for locking the securing means, electro-magnetic means for actuating the locking means, and means for energizing the electro-magnetic means.

4. The combination with a curtain housing, of a roller mounted therein, a curtain attached to the roller, fabric strips of conductivematerial aixed to one side of the curtrin, means for energizing the fabric strips, notched bars affixed to the window casing, latches mounted in the free extremity of the, curtain, and adapted to engage with the notched bars, a spring interposed between theinner ends of the latches and.

normally holding the latches in engagement with the notched bars, said latches having notches therein, a non-conductive tubular casing inthe curtain extremity, said latches bein slidingly mounted therein, detent mem ers in the last-named tubular casing adapted to engage with the notches in the latches when magneticallyl energized, magnetic coils mounted in the tubular casing and encircling the sliding latches, said electro-magnetic coils being connected to certain of the metal fabric strips, and springs serving to operatethe roller to wind the curtain when the latches are released.

5. In a fire roof window curtain, the combination with a porcelain` housing and hangers, of a porcelain shade roller mounted in the hangers, an asbestos fabric shade.

fixed to the ro lei', and strips of woven wire fabric secured to one side of the asbestos fabric to reinforce the same.

6. In a fireproof window curtain, the combination with a non-conductive housing and hangers, of a non-conductive roller mounted in the hangers, 'electric current terminals within the roller, an asbestos fabric curtain shade fixed to the roller, strips of woven wire fabric secured to one side of the asbestos fabric and disposed longitudinally upon the Nshade, and means for formin a continuous contact between the electric termiwith a non-conductive housing and hangers, of a non-conductive roller journaled in the hangers, springs having their inner extremity connected to the roller and their outer extremity connected to the housing and serving to turnthe roller in one direc,`

I tion, electric terminals within the roller, an

asbestos shade having one extremity fixed to the. roller, .strips ofvwoven wire vfabric fixed to one side of the asbestos shade and disposed longitudinally thereon, a ratchet l wheel mounted on one end of the roller, a

pawl serving to prevent rotation of the roller in one direction, means for releasing the pawl, a spring to hold the pawl in enga ement with the ratchet wheel, a solenoid beneath the (pawl, a plunger actuated by the Asolenoid an serving to lock the pawl tive bars and bers sliding therein and adapted to engage with the notched rack members on the window. casing, magnetic coils disposed in the tubular member and encircling the latch members, detent members disposed in the tubular member and engaging with notches in the latch members when magnetically influenced by the latch members, means whereby the magnetic coils are energized conjunctively with the fabric strips, a spring interposed between the inner ends of the latch members and serving to maintain 4them in engagement with the notched rack en the detent members are inmembers w disengaged position, and handles fprojecting angu arly from theinner ends o the latch members for manually disengaging them from said notched rack'members when the electric switch is in inoperative position.

' 8. In a window curtain, a roller consist- 'ing of two sections secured together and forming a hollow shaft, a fabric shade clamped between the two sections, contact rings disposed within the shaft, insulating ring elements between thev contact rings, wire fabric strips disposed on one side of thev fabric shade, each stripl being connected to a contact rin non-rotative bars disposed within the hol ow shaft, brushes thereon and in enga ement with the contact rings, electric terminals secured to said non-rotashaft, and a switch to control the terminals disposed without the shaft. y

9. In a window curtain, a housing, supporting brackets thereon, a roller journaled in the brackets, spiral springs adjacent to the brackets and having the inner end connected to the roller and their outer extremities connected to the housing and servin to turn the roller in one direction, a fa ric' shade fixed to the roller means for electrically energizing the shade, a ratchet on the roller, a aw in engagement with the ratchet an operating against the tension of passing without the hollow' the springs, a spring to actuate the pawl,

means for manually releasing the pawl, and means for locking the pawl in operative position when the curtain is energized.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature the 12th da of Au st, 1920.

` CLARENC R. M XWELL. 

